Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to revise the grain deal with Ukraine because he says developing countries and Russia are being cheated.
With this agreement, the export of Ukrainian food products by sea resumed this summer after months of the war.
Putin stated at an economic forum in the eastern port city of Vladivostok that too much grain is going to the European Union, something he says is at the expense of poorer countries. Russia said in July when the deal was made, that tackling food shortages in developing countries was a key reason for making the deals.
In addition, according to Putin, another part of the deal, which removes obstacles to Russian exports, will not be implemented. Both Russia and Ukraine are significant exporters of grain worldwide. Ukraine says the terms of the agreement are being strictly adhered to. Therefore, according to Kyiv, there is no reason to revise the agreements.
Putin spoke at the forum about potentially restricting exports to the EU and promised to discuss the issue with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey and the United Nations assisted in closing the deal in July. Ships could not leave Ukrainian ports due to the Russian invasion in late February.
Since the grain deal, about 90 ships have left Ukraine or will do so in the near future. Two ships belonged to the World Food Program (WFP), destined for Djibouti and Yemen. Turkey, in particular, receives a lot of grain, more than 368,000 tons. The EU will receive almost 760,000 tons. Ships also go to other countries, including China, India and Iran.
